Impulse buying in live streaming commerce: A literature review and research agenda

Abstract

Impulse buying in live streaming commerce (LSC) is an emerging phenomenon characterized by spontaneous, unplanned purchases driven by real-time social interactions. Despite increasing scholarly attention, the existing literature remains fragmented, lacking consensus on antecedents, theoretical perspectives, and outcomes. This fragmentation hinders theoretical development and accumulation of knowledge of this research stream. To address these issues, this study provides a systematic review of impulse buying in LSC, synthesizing key research trends, theoretical foundations, and methodological approaches. Drawing on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework, we propose an integrative framework that consolidates antecedents, psychological mechanisms, and outcomes of impulse buying within LSC. This comprehensive synthesis clarifies existing inconsistencies and offers structured avenues for future research. For practitioners, our framework identifies critical platform features, streamer attributes, and consumer characteristics that influence impulse buying, enabling more effective strategies and responsible practices in LSC.